What happened: The Dallas Cowboys enter their matchup against the Green Bay Packers with a 2-3 record and one of the worst defenses in the league after trading pass rusher Micah Parsons following a summer contract standoff. Despite earlier claims that Dallas brass was satisfied with the draft picks acquired from Green Bay, a rival general manager reported that the move now haunts the organization.

Why it matters: Parsons recorded 41 tackles and 12.5 sacks across 14 games for the Green Bay Packers in 2025, providing the exact pass-rushing disruption Dallas lacked while allowing 419 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Even with Parsons sidelined by an injury this week, the Cowboys have shown they cannot stop opposing offenses without a premier edge presence.